Community Development Division

We help Montana communities offer safe, efficient, and quality public facilities, including streets, water and sewer services, and schools; affordable and attractive housing and neighborhoods; excellent health care facilities and social services; a vibrant economy; and job opportunities.

Montana Department of Commerce continues to advocate for access to safe, stable housing

HELENA, Mont. – April is Fair Housing Month, and the Montana Department of Commerce continues to work with landlords, tenants and property managers to ensure more folks have access to safe and stable housing.

The Housing and the Community Development Divisions at the Montana Department of Commerce work diligently with property owners, landlords, developers, and other private partners to make sure all the associated housing programs comply and continue to follow Montana fair housing laws. This is done by:

Administering most of Montana’s federal housing programs to enable compliance and program enforcement of Fair Housing laws.

Educating site managers, landlords, renters, developers, property owners, realtors, lenders, and the public about Fair Housing.

Advocating for the rights of all Montanan’s who cannot afford market-rate housing.

Providing decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing for lower income individuals and families.

In April of 1968, Congress passed the federal Fair Housing Act. Its primary purpose is to protect people from seller or landlord discrimination.

In Montana, housing discrimination is against the law. The Montana Human Rights Act states it is unlawful to make decisions about housing based on a person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, age, disability, or familial status.